Pennsylvania Fundraising Licensing
Below, you'll find licensing requirements for a range of fundraising activities. At a glance, you can see requirements, fees, filing instructions, and links to forms for everything from charitable gaming and cause marketing to professional fundraisers and charitable gift annuities.
Make sure your fundraising activities meet the unique requirements of each jurisdiction where you’re soliciting. Feel free to explore, bookmark, and share!
- Jump To:
- Pennsylvania Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
- Pennsylvania Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Company Licenses
Pennsylvania Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses
Pennsylvania Charitable Gaming Licenses
Not required
Bingo licenses and small games of chance licenses are issued at the county level in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Charitable Gift Annuity Registration
Not required
No filing is required, but charities need to meet certain conditions before issuing charitable gift annuities. Pennsylvania certain charities from insurance regulation related to charitable gift annuities if they meet the description offered in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, have been in continuous existence for at least 3 years, and have unrestricted assets of at least $100,000 plus half of the principal value of issued annuities. The charity must also be an educational institution, hospital, senior citizen center, religious institution, or charitable organization registered with the department of state.
Pennsylvania Charitable Organization Registration
| Agency: | Pennsylvania Department of State - Bureau of Charitable Organizations |
| Law: | 10 Pennsylvania Statutes, Chapter 4B, § 162.1 - 162.7 |
Automatic Exemption
| Exemption Eligible Organizations: |
|
| Original Ink: | Not required |
| Notarize: | Not required |
| Notes: | If your organization is based in Pennsylvania, it may still be required to file an Institutions of Purely Public Charity Statement. |
Initial Registration
| Form: | |
| Instructions: | |
| Filing method: | |
| Agency fee: | $15-250, depending on gross contributions |
| Original Ink: | Not required |
| Notarize: | Not required |
| Notes: |
|
Registration Renewal
| Form: | |
| Filing method: | |
| Agency fee: | $15-250, depending on gross contributions |
| Due: | Due annually 10.5 months after the end of the fiscal year every year. |
| Original Ink: | Not required |
| Notarize: | Not required |
| Notes: |
|
Change of Fiscal Year
| Form: | |
| Agency fee: | Varies |
| Original Ink: | Not required |
| Notarize: | Not required |
| Notes: | Fiscal year can be changed during the standard renewal process. |
Pennsylvania Commercial Co-Venturer Registration
Not required
Pennsylvania does not currently have a traditional registration requirement for commercial co-venturers, but they may need to follow other regulations before and after fundraising events.
Initial Registration
Not required
Registration is not required for commercial co-venturers in Pennsylvania, but other requirements may apply.
Registration Renewal
Not required
Pennsylvania Fundraising Counsel Registration
| Agency: | Pennsylvania Department of State - Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations |
Initial Registration
| Form: | Form BCO-150: Registration Statement for Professional Fundraising Counsel |
| Agency fee: | $250 |
| Original Ink: | Not required |
| Notarize: | Not required |
Registration Renewal
| Form: | Form BCO-150: Registration Statement for Professional Fundraising Counsel (Renewal) |
| Agency fee: | $250 |
| Due: | Annually |
| Original Ink: | Not required |
| Notarize: | Not required |
Pennsylvania Institution of Purely Public Charity Registration
Not required
Charitable organizations that meet the definition of a purely public charity, as defined in The Institutions of Purely Public Charity Act, should register as an institution of public charity instead of registering as a charitable organization.
More information: Pennsylvania Department of State - Bureau of Charitable OrganizationsRegistration to Obtain Exemption
Not required
Renewal to Maintain Exemption
Not required
Initial Registration
Not required
Registration Renewal
Not required
Pennsylvania Professional Fundraiser Registration
Initial Registration
| Form: | |
| Agency fee: | $250 |
| Original Ink: | Not required |
| Notarize: | Not required |
Registration Renewal
| Form: | |
| Agency fee: | $250 |
| Due: | Annually |
| Original Ink: | Not required |
| Notarize: | Not required |
Individual Licenses
Pennsylvania Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses
Pennsylvania Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration
Not required
Solicitors who are not employed by a professional fundraising firm but operate independently may be required to register. Employees of professional fundraising firms are generally not required to register as an individual solicitor in Pennsylvania.
Initial Registration
Not required
Registration is not required for individual solicitors in Pennsylvania, but other requirements may apply.
Registration Renewal
Not required
Learn about fundraising in other states:
Harbor Compliance® proudly partners with the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations to provide insightful resources and compliance solutions to nonprofits in Pennsylvania.
Free Webinar
Charitable Solicitation Compliance
What does it take to be compliant?
Thursday, February 28th at 1:00 - 2:00PM EDT
Register Now
Free White Paper
Charitable Solicitation Compliance
An explanation of increasingly complex state charity requirements.
Download Now
Free White Paper
How Compliance Affects Grantseeking
Learn what grant makers and grantseekers need to know to ensure compliance.
Download Now
